The Outbound 44/46 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Outbound 44, an aft-cockpit masthead sloop, was designed by Carl Schumacher and built in Shanghai by the Hampton Yacht Building Co. The Outbound 46 differs from the 44 in that it has an extended boarding platform.

An Outbound 44 'Frannie B' sailboat at anchor in Prince Rupert Bay, Dominica, West Indies

This Outbound 44 'Frannie B' sports a double-headed Solent Rig.

Published Specification for the Outbound 44

Underwater Profile: Bulb Fin Keel with Spade Rudder

Hull Material: GRP (fiberglass)

Length Overall: 44'9" (13.6m)

Waterline Length: 40'3" (12.3m)

Beam: 13'6" (4.1m)

Draft: 6'6" (2.0m), or shoal draft version 5'6" (1.7m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 28,000lb (12,700kg)

Designer: Carl Schumacher

Builder: Outbound Yachts

Year First Built: 2001

Number Built: 50

Published Design Ratios for the Outbound 44

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 18.9

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 35.8

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 192

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 32.5

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.8

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Outbound 44

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 18.9 suggests that the Outbound 44 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 35.8 would usually mean that the Outbound 44 would have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of the keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 192, tells us the Outbound 44 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 32.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Outbound 44 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a moderate bluewater cruising boat - a predictable and acceptable motion for most seasoned sailors.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.8 tells us that a Outbound 44 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.